Itineraries

The Netherlands beyond Amsterdam is a bit of a mystery to most people, even to those who live there – which, of course, is part of its charm. However, to save you having to read through the entire Guide before deciding where to go we’ve put together a few itineraries to help you out.

The northern part of the country’s major urban centre, with a huge university population and a buzzy centre full of bars and restaurants.

You don’t normally think of the Netherlands as a place to experience the Great Outdoors, but it is a fantastic destination for many outdoor activities, from horseriding to sailing to some other, more specifically Dutch pursuits.

4 Horseriding

5 Windsurfing and surfing

There’s no better place for both activities than Renesse in Zeeland’s Schouwen-Duiveland, where you can rent boards and wet suits and seek out the plentiful waves and wind.

The Netherlands is known for its art and boasts some top-class collections. Several smaller towns hold a fantastic selection of Dutch painting and sculpture, and visiting some of these lesser-known museums and galleries makes for a great trip.

When it reopens, the Rijksmuseum will reclaim its rightful place in the top ten of European galleries; until then you still have the Van Gogh Museum, the newly reopened Stedelijk and the excellent Amsterdam Historisch Museum, to name just three.